Apparatus for recording statistical data.



PATENTED MAR. 22, 1904.

C. I'. PIDGIN. APPARATUS FOR RECORDING STATISTICAL DATA.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17, 1899.

N0 MODEL.

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I 1 l z 7b E wnltoz 90%,@ @AM 1 @LA UNITED STATES- Patented March 22,1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

APPARATUS FOR RECORDING STATISTICAL DATA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 755,168, dated March22, 1904.

lApplication filed August 17, 1899. Serial No. 727,532. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. PIDGIN, of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Recording Statistical Data, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to means for recording statistical data, and hasparticular reference to apparatus of the general type shown in myapplication filed June 17, 1899, Serial No. 7 20,995, in whichapplication the method and means set forth provide for tabulatin g orcompilingstatistics, such as sociological or population statistics of acensus, and in general this present invention may be referred to as animprovement upon or carrying forward of the invention described in saidapplication; but the present invention has a wider scope of utility inthat it is adapted to be embodied in machines for other purposes, suchas for voting, as Will be more fully described hereinafter.

`One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a punch-boardof the same general type as in said application, Serial No. 720,995, butso constructed that if an error is made by the operator it may becorrected before the count is made.

Another object is the provision of means for expeditiously andeconomically counting' statistical data without the necessity oftransferring the same from the original schedule by punching, stamping,or writing on individual cards or slips.

A further object of the invention is to provide means which can beutilized in connection with the Australian ballot system forinstantaneously counting the votes for each candidate as soon as thevoter or voters have completed their ballots.

A further object of the invention is the production of a machine adaptedfor general multiple counting` or indicating and recording, the countingor indicating and the recording action of each of the plurality ofmechanisms being simultaneous.

The invention consist in the means and in the construction andcombination of parts for attaining these objects, as will be more fullyhereinafter set forth and then pointed out in the claims heretoappended.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate so much of the apparatusasis necessary to a clear understanding of the invention, Figure lrepresentsaplan view of a keyboard constructed with thirty-six keys infour rows of nine each; but itis to be understood that the keys orpunches may be indefinitely varied both as to number and arrangement ofrows. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of the keyboard enlarged fromthe scale of Fig. 1 and indicating some of the counters and theelectrical connections in a conventional manner. It is to be understoodthat in practice the number of counters will equal the number of keys orpunches and that said counters may be of the type shown and described inthe application above referred to.

Similar reference characters indicate similar parts in both figures.

The keyboard comprises a base a, preferably of wood, in which isa metalplate 1 and suitable supports or standards b for the two plates 2 and 3.For convenience the plate l will be referred to as the bottom plate,plate 3 as the top7 plate, and plate 2 as the middie plate. The middleplate 2 is supported at a slight distance above the bottom plate l, suchas ene-sixteenth of an inch or more, for a purpose hereinafterexplained, while the top plate 3 is supported an inch or more above themiddle plate. The three plates are provided with holes in alinement witheach other, each plate of the size and capacity represented in thedrawings, having four rows of holes and nine holes in a row.

A pin or plunger c, having a head or key c', is mounted to reciprocatein cach pair of alin'ed holes of the plates 2 and 3 and may be formed atits lower end either flat, as indicated at c2 in Fig. 2, or pointed, asindicated at c3 in said figure. Each pin or plunger is provided with acollar c", adapted to limit the upward movement of the pin by contactwith the under side of the top plate 3, and a spring c is coiled aboutthe pin and is confined between the top of the middle plate 2 and anannular abutment c, secured to said pin, said spring tending to hold thepin in the position shown at IOO the left in Fig. 2. At the upper end ofeach pin or plung'er is a head or key c7, having' suitable means forbearing a distinguishing' index or character on its upper face.

The base a is provided with a suitable electrical socket-contact l belowand in line with each hole in the plate l, which contact may be of thetype shown in the application above referred to or which may consist, ashere shown, of a plug' having' two or more spring's adapted to coactwith the pin or plunger when the latter is depressed to complete anelectrical circuit, said pin or plung'er acting', therefore, as aswitch. Each contact Z is electrically connected with a plug e in thebase (t, and above the series of plugs e is a yieldingly-supported barf, having a series of springs f insulated from each other and having abutton f2, by means of which all of the springs f may be simultaneouslypressed in contact with the plugs e. Each spring f is electricallyconnected with one of a series of counters g, which, as above stated,may be of the type shown in the application referred to.

On the under side of the top plate 3 there are secured two or morestrips L, between which and the under side of the plate a frame QI isadapted to slide, said frame consisting of two or more bars having' aprojecting handle or handles 27', by means of which the said frame maybe drawn slightly outward against the stress of the spring 2, secured tothe top of the middle plate Q and bearing against a lug 3 at the innerend of the frame. Spring detents or pawls /t' are secured to the framee', one for each of the pins or plungers c. Each of said spring-detentsbears against the side of its respective pin c and has its lower endslightly beveled or inclined for a purpose which will be presentlydescribed. Then a pin c is depressed to the position shown at the rightin Fig. 2, so that its lower end will make the electrical contacthereinbefore described, the collar ci of said pin moves the spring /t toone side until said collar catches below said spring, whereby the pinwill be held in its depressed position. lf the operator should, however,make an error and depress the wrong key, it can be forcibly pulledupward, the inclined lower end of the detent permitting the collar c'ito pass it in an upward direction, or, if desired, as when errors havebeen made, all of the pins which have been depressed maybe released, soas to be forced upward by their springs c5 by grasping the handle orhandles e" of the frame e' and pulling said frame outward, so that allof the detents may be witl drawn from their positions above the collarsci.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the hole at the left in thebottom plate l is reamed, so as to enable the pin c to readily pass intoand through said hole; but, if desired` said hole in the plate l may beformed with cutting edges to cooperate with the lower end of the pin topunch a well-defined hole in a sheet of paper or card interposed betweenthe plates l and 2. The pin e (shown at theI right in Fig. 2) ispointed, so as to easily make a small perforation in such a sheet ofcard.

lilhen the apparatus described is employed merely for counting the itemsmaking' up statistical data, the keys, which are provided with suitableindex characters, are depressed according to the data to be counted. Thesaid keys are held in their depressed positions by the detents; but nocounting is yet effected, for the reason that the electrical circuitsare still broken between a and j. Therefore, if an error has been made,either one` or all of the pins or plungers may be elevated, ashereinbefore described. By simply depressing the button l the particularcounters will be simultaneously operated one step according to theparticular pins which are depesssed. By then simply sliding the frame f/outward all of the pins are released and are automatically raised readyfor the next operation. 7When it is desired to make a permanentrecord ofthe statistical or other data desired, asheet of paper or cardboardproperly divided into squares or spaces and otherwise marked, ildesired, is inserted between the plates l and 2, the pins when in theirnormal elevated positions having their lower ends above the spacebetween said plates. Then the pins are depressed or pushed down, asabove described, they lirstpass through and perforate the sheet ofpaperor card and then pass to the contacts (Z, as above described. The restofthe operation as to the countaining remains the same.

By omittingl to depress the button f*l or by omitting' the countersaltogether the apparatus may be used for simply making' a permanentrecord in a sheet or card.

In voting according to the Australian ballot system the method of usewould be as follows: Upon the top plate a copy of the ballot would besuitably placed under glass, and at the end of each line where the Xmark is usually made there would be a detent or key. The voter wouldtake his ballot and place it between the plates l and 2 and then recordhis vote by pushing down the keys opposite the names of those for whomhe desired to cast his ballot. The pins would perforate the ballot, thusforming a record for subsequent use or examination. The ballot beingcomplete, he would inform the warden or elections ofiicer, who wouldpush the button f. Each vote would then be instantaneously counted uponits respective counter for each candidate voted for. rlhe oliicer wouldthen pull the handles e", thus releasing the perforated ballot, whichthe voter would then depositin the ballot-box, as usual. In case thevoter made a mistake by voting' for the wrong person or voting' for twocandidates for the same oiice when he should have voted for but one theoliicer can release the ballot by means of the handles i', marking thesame void, and suplIO ply the voter with a new ballot. When the pollsclose, the oHcer can open the doors, which are kept locked during thevoting hours, and disclose the counters bearing the names of thecandidates, and the votes for each candidate can be taken downimmediately and supplied to the public press without loss of time incounting ballots. Later the ballots may be examined, and if it is foundthat a voter has voted Jfor more candidates for a certain oiiice than heis entitled to the officers can take the same course that they now dowith ballots improperly checked and revise their count. Where the namesof parties are written upon blank lines upon the ballot, they would becounted altogether under a head which might be termed Scattering orMiscellaneous Thus a vote might be announced Jones, 682; Walker, 457;scattering, 3l. When the perforated ballots are examined, it might beascertained that of the scattering votes twenty-tive were for John Smithand siX for Richard Roe, and these names could appear in the revisedcount.

If the paper or card to be perforated is oi' a nature which prevents aneasy punching by means of the plungers, such as shown at the left inFig. 2, by the ordinary pressure of the finger, any suitablepower-increasing device might be employed to enable the operator orvoter to apply suflicient power to the punch.

The electrical connections between the sockets l and plugs e areindicated at Z and the electrical connections between the switchspringsf and the counters g are indicated at m.

n represents an electrical connection from the plurality of countersthrough a battery and to one of the standards I or any other suitablepart of the apparatus to enable each of the pins c to act as aswitch, asabove described.

It will be observed that each of the socketcontacts d is entirelyinsulated from any of the metallic parts above it.

Having now described my invention sufriciently to enable the same to beunderstood, although Without attempting to set forth all of themodiiications of which the machine is capable or all of its modes ofuse, I declare that what I claim isl. An apparatus oi' the characterdescribed comprising a plurality of counters, a suitable support for asheet such as paper, a plurality of electrical contacts below saidsupport each of said contacts being adapted to be put into electricalconnection with a counter, manuallymovable devices adapted to perforatethe sheet and complete the circuit through said contacts, and a normallyopen switch for simultaneously connecting a plurality of counters with aplurality of manually-movable devices.

2. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a base, apaper-guide mounted thereon, a plurality of counters, a plurality ofcontacts in circuit with said counters and located below said guide, anda corresponding number of pins or plungers having penetrating endsarranged to perforate a card or paper in said guide, said pins orplungers being adapted to close the circuits through said contacts.

3. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a base, apaper-guide mounted thereon, a plurality of counters, a plurality ofcontacts in circuit with said counters and located below said guide, anda corresponding number 0I' pins or plungers having penetrating endsarranged to perforate a card or paper in said guide, said pins orplungers being adapted to close the circuits through said contacts,collars located on said pins or plungers, springs for normally retainingsaid pins or plungers in a raised position, detents arranged to engagesaid collars and hold said pins or plungers against the action of saidsprings, and a normally open switch for simultaneously connecting aplurality of counters with a plurality of said pins or plungers.

In testimony whereof I have aiiiXed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES F. PIDGIN.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM G. GRUNDY, HARRY L. C. BALDWIN.

